Project Hope and the Santander Urban Impact Microgrant

Project Hope, a public health program within the CSC, has gained momentum with the help of the Santander Urban Impact Microgrant Program. The program offers passionate, forward-thinking students funding to pursue community-centered projects. With the money received, students are able to bring their ideas to life in meaningful and tangible ways.

This year, Katie Mossburg and Ray Rosenbloom were awarded the Santander Urban Impact Microgrant. Ray is this year's Program Manager for Project Hope, which works with 12 community partners dedicated to improving public health and increasing awareness. Ray and Katie decided to put the microgrant toward one of Project Hope's community partners, the Gavin Foundation. Gavin is a treatment house in South Boston. Ray volunteered with The Gavin Foundation last year and Katie currently volunteers each week.

The Gavin Foundation is a recovery center for people struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. Local volunteers engage with folks at the facility, from cooking and playing cards to resume writing. Many people who receive support from The Gavin Foundation have never been taught the do’s-and-don’ts of resume writing, and exposure to the craft can kickstart their professional lives. Katie and Ray found their passion for resume workshopping during their time spent volunteering with Gavin.

While it’s fantastic that Gavin has built space for lessons on resume writing, it’s still difficult for folks to find work. Employers are understandably nervous about hiring candidates with felonies and histories of homelessness. It’s a hurdle that The Gavin Foundation does it’s best to jump.

Ray and Katie plan to use the microgrant to buy flash drives for all of Gavin's residents. If each person who uses the foundation has a USB flash drive, then people without printers can use public printers for printing resumes and applications. It's a small step that will push many lives forward. Now that's an impact.